Apparatus for the electric lighting of motor-cars and for other purposes.



M. METZ. APPARATUS FOR THE ELECTRIC LIGHTING OP MOTOR CARS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. APPLICATION FILED PEB.9, 1912.

1,084,220. Patented Jan. 13, 1914 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

l WITNE$$ESI Hi QM J/ /NVENTOR;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAX METZ, OF COVENTRY, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR THE ELECTRIC LIGHTING OF MOTOR-CARS AND FOR OTHER- PURPOSES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, MAX METZ, a sub ect of the German Empire, residing at Coven- .try, in the county of Warwick, England,

have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for the Electric Lighting of Motor-Oars and for other Purposes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to switches for use in connection with electric batteries and though more particularly designed for electric lighting purposes is equally applicable where the currentpassihg therethrough is put to other uses.

The object of the invention is to provide a switch which in addition to its function on the one hand as an electric distributor whereby the whole or one or more of a number of circuits may be completed or broken at will, at the same time also serves on the other hand as a single or double pole switch and a change over switch whereby the battery may be changed from series working to parallel working. I

The construction of the switch is further such that the various circuits which it controls may be supplied with current at different voltages from the same battery. For example, in the case of motor vehicles, the head lamps which are required to give a powerful light are placed across the full bat-' tery voltage while the side lamps and tail lamp are placed across portions of the battery.

A switch constructed according to this invention comprises two series of insulated contacts between and adapted to make contact with which is a multiple brush or brushes.

The contacts and brushes are preferably inclosed in a dust and weatherproof manner in a casing of insulating material, the brushes being provided with an outside han dle moving over a numbered or notched dial so that the position of the brush or brushes relatively to the two series of contacts for any given effect may be determined.

The arran ement and working of the switch is such that one series of contacts controls the battery while the other series of contacts regulates the. lamp or other circuits to which the electric current is to be supplied.

Each of the battery series of contacts is furnished with a terminal wherebv it is peri manently connected to a pole of the battery. The circuit series of contacts are likewise provided withterminals for connecting them to the various circuits.

The invention is described herein as applied by way of example to the lighting of motor vehicles though it is to be clearly understood that it is not limited to this application as it will be quite obvious that the invention is capable of application for purposes.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a general view of a switch constructed according to this invention and suitable for use in connection with the lighting of motor vehicles. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken through the center of the complete switch. Fig. 3 is a plan of the multiple brush. Fig. 4 is a plan of the base plate carrying the circuit series of cont-acts. Fig. 5 is an underside plan view of the cover carrying the bat tery series of contacts. Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 are views similar to Figs. 4 and 5 illustrating the successive positions of the brushes for the different effects described.

Referring to the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 11 which is designed for use in the electric lighting of motorcars having, say, two head lamps, two side lamps and a tail lamp, 2 represents a base plate of insulatir material carrying one of the two series or contacts, 3 a cover also of insulating mate rial and carrying the other ser'es of contacts. and 4 is a multiple brush whereby communi cation between the two series of contacts aforesaid may be made and broken in the manner hereinafter described. The termi nal screws for the various contacts in the base plate and cover project from the back of the switch which is suitably recessed to accommodate their clamping nuts as shown in Fig. 2. The said brush comprises a block 4 of insulating material mounted rotatablv on a vertical spindle 5 passing centrally through the switch, and radial arms or brushes proper 4 which may be of laminated brass and are bifurcated at their outer ends as shown in Fig. 2 so as to make contact with the two series of contacts on the base plate and cover respectively.

The outer surface of the cover 3 is provided with a dial. Fig. 1, and the spindle is provided with an outside handle 5 moving Over id dial so that the position of the brushes relatively to the two series of C01ii. 0

other 3 of equal lengths carried thereby some of which are placed across the full voltage of the battery While the others are placed across a portion or portions of said battery and a multiple brush operated by a single switch handle for establishing electrical connnunication between the two series of" contacts in such a manner that at each successive movement or said brush the Whole or i one or more of said circuits is or are out out and at the same time receive current at different voltages from the same battery.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

MAX METZr Witnesses:

HAROLD J; JilRVIS, T. FLnTcE TNILSON. 

